Electrically insulative structure having holes for feedthroughs

Abstract

Forming feedthrough device comprising an electrically insulative structure having holes extending there through. The holes have disposed therein conductive members around which the electrically insulative structure is hermetically sealed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for forming an electrically insulative structure having holes for feedthroughs, comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity having first and second ends; 
 an injection nozzle disposed at a first end of the cavity configured to inject moldable material into the cavity; 
 a plurality of pins extending through the cavity from the second to the first end; and 
 a cavity member extending across the cavity so as to form a sub-cavity between the cavity member and the first end of the cavity into which the moldable material is injected, the cavity member having a plurality of holes through which the pins extend; 
 wherein the member is initially positioned such that the member is adjacent the first end, and wherein the member is configured to move, relative to the pins and the housing, away from the first end along an axis to increase the volume of the sub-cavity as the moldable material is injected. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to seal the cavity under vacuum pressure before injecting the moldable material. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one channel extending away from the first end of the cavity to allow the expulsion of air from the cavity as the moldable material is injected. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the housing surrounding the injection nozzle comprises a plurality of holes to receive ends of the pin. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spring member configured to initially bias the cavity member adjacent the first end. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pressure sensor arranged to determine the pressure within the cavity. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is configured to utilize the output of the pressure sensor to control the flow of material from the injection nozzle. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the member to increase the volume of the sub-cavity exposes more of a length of the pins within the cavity. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for forming an electrically insulative structure having holes for feedthroughs, comprising:
 upper and lower portions defining a cavity having first and second ends; 
 an injection nozzle disposed in the upper portion configured to inject moldable material into the cavity; 
 a plurality of pins extending through the cavity along the axis; 
 a cavity member extending across the cavity substantially so as to form a sub-cavity between the cavity member and the first end of the cavity into which the moldable material is injected, the cavity member having a plurality of holes through which the pins extend; 
 wherein the member is initially positioned such that the member is adjacent the first end, and wherein the member is configured to move, relative to the pins and the housing, along an axis to increase the volume of the sub-cavity as the moldable material is injected. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured to seal the cavity under vacuum pressure before injecting the moldable material. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one channel extending away from the first end of the cavity to allow the expulsion of air from the cavity as the moldable material is injected. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the upper portion of the housing surrounding the injection nozzle comprises a plurality of holes to receive the ends of the pins. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a spring member configured to initially bias the cavity member adjacent the first end. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a pressure sensor arranged to determine the pressure within the cavity. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is configured to utilize the output of the pressure sensor to control the flow of material from the injection nozzle. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the movement of the member to increase the volume of the sub-cavity exposes more of a length of the pins within the cavity.